Sprinkler system.



UNITED sTArns PATENT om icn;

ORMSBEE T. FARNHAM, OF EAST GREENWIGH, RHODE ISLAND.

SPRINKLER SYSTEM.

To (ZZZ who in it may concern:

Be it known that I, OaMsBaE T. FARNHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at the town of East Greenwich, in the county of Kent and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sprinkler Systems, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing This invention contemplates certain new and useful improvements in automatic sprinkling systems, and relates moreparticularly to that class of sprinklers which are employed in mills, stores, warehouses, and the like for automatically extinguishing incipient fires.

lt is well known that a ceiling in which the joists are exposed will burn more readily than a flat or closed ceiling, and also that it'is more dillicult to extinguish an incipient lire in a ceiling of the first mentioned character by means of the automatic systems now in use for the reason that the depending joists interfere with a proper distribution of the water. For this reason the ceiling boards, except in those places directly over the sprinkler heads, do not receive enough moisture to prevent the spread of the lire. If, to obviate this difficulty, the ordinary sprinkling heads are placed closer together, the first sprinkler to be set in operation by the heat from the flames will cool the next adjacent sprinkler and prevent its actionf; For this reason, it has been found impossible in practice, to plaee such sprinkling heads nearer than from six to seven feet apart to attain a maximum utility.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the foregoing difficulties byproviding a sprinkling system in which the distributing nozzles may be placed as close together as lesired,said nozzles being placed in series, and each series being controlled by a single auto matic valve which is opened by the heat generated from. a fire, permitting a free distribution of water throughout the entire area controlled by the series. To this end the invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawingskd igure lis a sectional view of a ceiling with my improved system 1L1)".

plied thereto. Fig. 2----is an enlarged sectional view illimtrating the controlling valve and one of the sprinklers. Fig. 3-'-is a (let-rill view of a second form oi sprinkler us d in my improved system. Figs. 4 and illnstrate a side elevation and end view, respectively, of a sprinkler head that will deliver in e water at right angles to the connecting pipes 12 and in line with the joists oiihc ceiling: Y

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates the supply pipe leading from. auy'suitable source of supply and preferably under pressure. Said pipe is preferably secured to the ceiling l l of the building to be protected and provided with a plurality of branch pipes l2 connected thereto by a depending casing 13. Said casing Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 3, 1905. Serial No. 268,034

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

is preferably provided with a vertical nipple 14 con.- nected to the supply pipe, and lateral nipples 15 con nected to said branch pipes. The lower end of the nipple 14 is provided with a valve seat 16 which is normally closed by a valve 17 carried by a stem 18 which projects through a. hole or opening in a cap 19 secured to the casing 13 in any suitable manner. The member 20 is provided with a shoulder or lip 21 adapted to fit over a hook or projection 22 of the cap 19, the opposite end of said member being secured to an extension of said cap by means of solder, or other fusible metal at 23. Extending upward through this member 20 is the'setscrew 30 by which the tension of the valve 17 is regulated through its stem 18.

The branch pipes 12 are formed in sections which are united by the sprinklers 24, 25 said sections decreasing in diameter as they leave the supply pipe l0, whereby reduction of pressure is prevented. Each of said sprinklers is formed with a casing having an opening therein directly over which is supported an approxin'iaiely if-shaped spreader 26 carried by arms 27. In addition to the foregoing, the sprinklers 24 are provided 7 with additional lower ppenings 28 below which a corrugated distributing plate is supported by means of arms '29. The sprinklers 24, 25 are arranged laterally and any number thereof may be employed.

In practice, the supply pipe is preferably centrally arranged with relation to the area to be protected, and any number of branch pipes 12 may be employed, as required; Each pair of branch pipes, however, is to be provided with one valve 17 controlling the supply of water thereto. ihe normal position of the parts is illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the water supply is normally cut off from thesprinklers. If, however, an incipient blaze should start irom any cause and generate sufficient heat to fuse the securing metal at 23 the mom-- ber 20 will drop, whereupon the force oi the water in the supply pipe 10 will unseat valve 17 and allow water to flow 'tothe sprinklers. The latter by their peculiar construction will all direct the water upward causing it to strike the beams and ceiling at anangle from which it reacts again thoroughly wetting the whole space botweon the joists, and at the same time the depending plates of the sprinklers 25 serve to thoroughly sprinkle the floor and such goods as may rest thereon:

The advantages oi my improved system will be at once apparent to those skilled in. the art to which'it appertains. tion that I have provided a system in which the sprinklers may be located as close together as maybe desired and that I have made provision for a maximum distribution of water into all corners of a ceiling, well as the floor below, lly this arrangement a ceiling constructcd with depending joists can be employed and at the same time receive a maximum protection, and therefore a low rate oiinsurance may be obtained thereon.

it will be particularly noted in this conneclid It will be noted that while have only illustrated two branch pipes l2, any number thereof may be employed as desired, without departing from the spirit of my in vention.

I claim as my invention:-

l. A sprinkling sysiem comprising a main supply pipe, a plurality of branch pipes. a casing uniting said main and branch pipesa cap for said casing, a valve in said casing controlling the supply to said branch pipes, said valve being provided with a stem projecting through said cap, a supporting member for said stem attached to the exterior of said cap by a fusible metal, and an adjustin: screw carried by said supporting member and engaging the end of said valve stem.

2. A sprinkling system comprising a main supply pipe. a plurality oi branch pipes, a casing uniting said main and branch pipes. a cap for saidcasing provided with a lltlt)l(.:ll1tl an opposite extension, a valve in said casing controlling the supply to said branch pipes, said valve having a. stem projecting; through said cap. and a supporting member for aid stem, said member having a lip engaging the book of said cap, the opposite end of said supporting member beingconnected to the extension of said cap by means 01' a fusible metal.

:5. An automatic fire extinguishing system comprising a main supply pipe, a plurality of branch pipes leading therefrom, each branch pipe being formed of a plurality of sections of decreasing diameter united by coupling n1emof sections of decreasing diameter united by coupling members, said coupling, members having: outlet openings in their walls, a spreader arranged in juxtaposition with one of the openings in each coupling, the alternate couplings being each provided with a depending dash plate. and an automatic valve controlling the flow of water to said branch pipes. I

A sprinkling system eomprisin a main supply pipe, a plurality of branch pipes-leading: therefrom, an automatic valve controlling the supply to 'said braneh pipes. and sprinkling devices oarried by said branch pipes, said sprinkling devices being each provided with an outlet opening in its top, and an overhanging V-shaped spreader, the point of which is contiguous to said opening, each alternate sprinkling: device being provided with :1 depending dash plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses OIUISHEE 'l. FAltNl IAM. 

